Laboratory table unit with pull-out boards



c. NALL 3,290,105

LABORATORY TABLE UNIT WITH PULL-OUT BOARDS Dec. 6, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1965 TIES: J

INVENTOR,

CLIVE NALL. BY W5-w ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. NALL LABORATORY TABLE UNIT WITH PULL-OUT BOARDS Dec. 6, 1966 Filed June 2, 1965 :Elll t 'l INVENTOR.

A T TOR N EY United States Patent 3,290,105 LABORATORY TABLE UNIT WITH PULL-OUT BOARDS Clive Nall, Redwood City, Calif., assignor to B & G

Holsinger, Inc., Burlingame, Califi, a corporation of California Filed June 2, 1965 Ser. No. 460,630 6 Claims. 61. 312-209 The present invention relates to improvements in a laboratory tab-1e unit with pull-out boards. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

It is proposed in this invention to provide a laboratory table unit that is particularly designed to accommodate varying groups of individuals for group instructions, and the configuration and shape of the table top adapts it to comfortably and efiiciently seat various size groups in a new concept of science teaching, this concept providing both the flexibility for todays teaching methods and the ultimate in versatility for future program changes.

More specifically stated, it is proposed to provide a laboratory table unit with pull-out boards for accommodating a number of students so that the instructor will have facial contact with all of the students while the latter are in a standing working position, and the students may be seated comfortably at the laboratory table unit at writing positions for lectures and instructional periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laboratory table unit having an under-frame that may be supported on the tops of cabinets of various shapes, thus permitting diiferent arrangements of cabinets to be obtained and changes may be made from time to time in the cabinet arrangements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a table unit of the character described that is provided with a plurality of pull-out boards that may be extended from the under-frame for use by the students, these pull-out boards having ample support when they are extended. When these pull-out boards are carried by a narrow portion of the under-frame, they are arranged at difierent elevations so that their inner ends will pass one another upon pushing the pull-out boards inwardly. Moreover, at least certain of the pull-out boards are made so that they may be arranged on opposite sides of a sink that projects below the table top and still the boards may be pushed inwardly without interference by the sink.

Furthermore, it is proposed to provide a laboratory table unit that has a table top formed with a plurality of inwardly-extending recessed portions in the marginal edges of the table top for accommodating portions of the bodies ofthe students so that they may face the instructor easily and turn when using the table top for working thereon.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues, and the novel features will be set forth in the appended claims.

Drawings For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of my laboratory table unit with pull-out boards.

Patented Dec. 6, 1966 FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the under-frame and its pull-out boards.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the laboratory table unit and illustrating several students arranged in different attitudes around the table unit.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane 4-4 of FIG. 3.

While I have shown only the preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown an under-frame ofcruciform outline that is designated generally at A having an unobstructed lower surface 10 adapted to be positioned on the tops of cabinets B of various shapes, thus permitting different arrangements of cabinets to be obtained and changes may be made from time to time in the cabinet arrangements.

This under-frame defines transverse cross-arm portions 11 projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem 12 of the cross provided by the under-frame, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

It will be noted that a table top C of cruciform outline is mounted over an upper surface 13 of the under-frame A to provide a covering thereover, the table top defining transverse cross-arm portions 14 projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem 15 of the cross provided by the table top. The cross-arm portions 14 and the main stem 15 of the table top C overlie the crossarm portions 11 and the main stem 12 of the under-frame A, respectively.

As an important structural feature of the laboratory table unit, a pair of pull-out boards 16 is slidably carried by the narrow end of the under-frame A, while another pair of pull-out boards 17 is slidably carried by the wider end of this under-frame. All of these pull-out boards are arranged to be extended from the under-frame for use by individuals utilizing the table unit.

It will be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the pull-out boards 16 are disposed at different elevations so that their inner ends 16a will pass one another when they are pus'hed'inwardly relative to the under-frame A. This 1 arrangement will provide ample support for the pull-out boards 16 when they are extended from the under-frame, since the end of the under-frame accommodating these pull-out boards is rather narrow.

As disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3, a sink D is mounted in the table top C to project therebelow, and this sink is arranged between the pull-out boards 17. In order to provide ample support for these pull-out boards when they are extended, they are formed with notches 17a in their inner ends that receive and fit around the sink D when these pull-out boards are pushed inwardly relative to the under-frame, as indicated by dot-dash lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The table top C is provided with a plurality of inwardly-extending recessed portions E disposed at the intersections of the cross-arm portions 14 and the main stem 15 of the table top so as to accommodate body parts of students F using the table unit. Each of the pull-out boards 16 and 17 is disposed adjacent to one of these recessed portions. The table top in the regions of the recessed portions project beyond and overhang the adjacent parts of the under-frame A to provide supporting surfaces 18 for use by the students.

It will be apparent that the transverse cross-portions 14 of the table top C are relatively short, and that the table top defines a rectangular portion C at one end of the main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the table top, and the latter further provides a relatively short table portion C at the opposite end of the main stem of the table to 2X11 of the recessed portions E are grouped around the intersections of the cross-arms 14 and the main stem 15 of the cross provided by the table top C.

In using the laboratory table unit, it will be found advisable to arrange the unit so that its longitudinal axis will point in the direction of the instructor, as suggested by the arrow 19 in FIG. 3. Thus when a group of students F occupy the table unit, for instance during a science lecture, the instructor will be able to observe the facial expressions of the students and, likewise, the students will be permitted to observe the instructor, Of course, I do not Wish to be limited in this particular arrangement.

The under-frame A may be provided with compartments 20 for accommodating books and other personal effects of the students, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Of course, the various students may use the pull-out boards 16 and 17, the supporting surfaces 18, the cross-arm portions 14, the table sections C and C as desired and may readily face in different directions.

I claim:

1. In a la-boratorytable unit with pull-out boards:

(a) a unitary legless under-frame of cruciform outline having an unobstructed lower surface adapted to be removably positioned on the tops of cabinets of various shapes with the cabinets constsituting the sole support for the under-frame, thus permitting different arrangements of cabinets to be obtained and changes may be made from time to time in the. cabinet arrangements, the under-frame defining transversecross arm portions spaced inwardly from opposite ends thereof and projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the underframe;

(b) a table top of cruciform outline mounted on an upper surface of the under-frame to provide a covering thereover, the table top defining transverse crossarm portions spaced inwardly from opposite ends thereof and projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the table p;

(c) the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the table top overlying the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the under-frame,,respectively;

(d) and a plurality of pull-out boards slidably carried by the under-frame and arranged to be extended from the latter;

(e) the table top defining table portions at opposite ends of the main longitudinal stem thereof which are dis posed for free access by individuals positioned at opposite ends of the table unit. 7

2. In a laboratory table unit with pull-out boards:

(a) an under-frame of cruciform outline having an unobstructed lower surface adapted to be positioned on tops of cabinets of various shapes, thus permitting different arrangements of cabinets to be obtained, the under-frame defining transverse cross-arm portions projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the under-frame;

(b) a table top of cruciform outline mounted on an upper surface of the under-frame to provide a covering thereover, the table top defining transverse crossarm portions projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem of the cross defined by the table p;

(c) the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the table top overlying the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the under-frame, respectively;

(d) a pair of pull-out boards slidably carried by the under-frame and being arranged to be extended from opposite sides of the under-frame and the latter providing ample support for the extended pull-out boards;

(e) and these pull-out boards being disposed at different elevations so that their inner ends will pass one another when they are pushed inwardly relative to the under-frame.

3. In a laboratory table unit with pull-out boards:

(a) an under-frame of cruciform outline having an unobstructed lower surface adapted to be positioned on the tops of cabinets, the under-frame defining transverse cross-arm portions projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the under-frame;

(b) a table top of cruciform outline mounted on an upper surface of the under-frame to provide a covering thereover, the table top defining relatively short transverse cross-arm portions and a rectangular table portion at one end of a main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the table top, and the latter further providing a relatively short table portion at the opposite end of the main stem of'the table top;

(c) the portions of the table top overlying corresponding portions of the under-frame;

(d) and a plurality of pull-out boards slidably carried by the under-frame and being extendable therefrom;

(e) the table top being provided with a plurality of inwardly-extending recessed portions disposed at the intersections of the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the table top, and the table top in the regions of these recessed portions projecting beyond and overhanging the adjacent parts of the under-frame to provide supporting surfaces.

4. The laboratory table unit with pull-out boards, ,as

, set forth in claim 3:

(f) and in which each pull-out board is disposed ad jacent to one of the recessed portions, and all of the recessed portions are grouped around the intersections of the cross-arms and main stem of the cross provided by the table top.

5. In a laboratory table unit with pull-out boards:

(a) an under-frame of cruciform outline defining transverse cross-arm portions projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the under-frame;

(b) a table top of cruciform outline mounted on an upper surface of the under-frame to provide a covering thereover, and defining transverse cross-arm portions projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem 'of the cross provided by the table top;

(c) the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the table top overlying the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the under-frame, respectively;

((1) a pair of pull-out boards slidably carried by the under-frame, with these pull-out boards being arranged to be extended from' opposite sides of the under-frame and the latter providing ample support for the extended pull=outboards;" j

(e) and these pull-out boards being disposed at different elevations so that their inner ends will pass one another when they are pushed inwardly relative to the under-frame.

6. In a laboratory table unit with pull-out boards:

(a) an under-frame of cruciform outline defining transverse cross-arm portions projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stern of the cross provided by the under-frame;

(b) a table top of cruciform outline mounted on an upper surface of the under-frame to provide a covering thereover, and defining transverse cross-arm ortions projecting from opposite sides of a main longitudinal stem of the cross provided by the table top;

(c) the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the table top overlying the cross-arm portions and the main stem of the under-frame, respectively;

((1) a pair of pull-out boards slida'bly carried by the under-frame, with these pull-out boards being arranged to be extended from opposite sides of the under-frame and the latter providing ample support for the extended pull-out boards;

(e) a sink mounted in the table top to project therebelow and being disposed between these pull-out 'boards;

(f) and these pull-out boards being fashioned with notches in their inner ends that receive and fit around the sink when they are pushed inwardly relative to the under-frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Salveson 312-209 X Davis 312-285 X Widman et a1. 312-239 X Myers 312-239 X Caldwell 312-198 Gray et a1. 312-209 McCarthy 108-31 Domash 312-201 Scholfield 312-239 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

2. IN A LABORATORY TABLE UNIT WITH PULL-OUT BOARDS: (A) AN UNDER-FRAME OF CRUCIFORM OUTLINE HAVING AN UNOBSTRUCTED LOWER SURFACE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ON TOPS OF CABINETS OF VARIOUS SHAPES, THUS PERMITTING DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS OF CABINETS TO BE OBTAINED, THE UNDER-FRAME DEFINING TRANSVERSE CROSS-ARM PORTIONS PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF A MAIN LONGITUDINAL STEM OF THE CROSS PROVIDED BY THE UNDER-FRAME; (B) A TABLE TOP OF CRUCIFORM OUTLINE MOUNTED ON AN UPPER SURFACE OF THE UNDER-FRAME TO PROVIDE A COVERING THE THEREOVER, THE TABLE TOP DEFINING TRANSVERSE CROSSARM PORTIONS PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF A MAIN LONGITUDINAL STEM OF THE CROSS DEFINED BY THE TABLE TOP; (C) THE CROSS-ARM PORTIONS AND THE MAIN STEM OF THE TABLE TOP OVERLYING THE CROSS-ARM PORTIONS AND THE MAIN STEM OF THE UNDER-FRAME, RESPECTIVELY; (D) A PAIR OF PULL-OUT BOARDS SLIDABLY CARRIED BY THE UNDER-FRAME AND BEING ARRANGED TO BE EXTENDED FROM OPPOSITE SIDES FO THE UNDER-FRAME AND THE LATTER PROVIDING AMPLE SUPPORT FOR THE EXTENDED PULL-OUT BOARDS; (E) AND THESE PULL-OUT BOARDS BEING DISPOSED AT DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS SO THAT THEIR INNER ENDS WILL PASS ONE ANOTHER WHEN THEY ARE PUSHED INWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE UNDER-FRAME. 